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Learning disability sports partnership aims to Change the Game

News, 14 May 2014

A new initiative launched by charity Norwood and the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation will see sports sessions delivered to more than 200 people with learning disabilities in southeast England over the next three years.

Operating across London and Berkshire, Change the Game aims to open up increased opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Thanks to a £444,467 grant from Sport England’s Inclusive Sport Fund, the project can now build on its successes in training staff to deliver sports sessions to people with disabilities.

Norwood’s chief executive, Elaine Kerr, said: “Change the Game is a fantastic new initiative. The funding from Sport England demonstrates their commitment to better enabling people with learning disabilities to participate in sports that they would not otherwise have access to. I am also delighted that we are again working with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation as it continues its commitment to delivering inclusive projects for people with disabilities in our community.”

Provide more opportunities for disabled people Covering various supported activities including: disability football, boccia and athletics, specialist coaches will support people with learning disabilities to take part in sporting activities as independently as possible, with the hope that one day they will be able to take part in international sporting events such as the Special Olympics.

Sport England’s director of insight, Lisa O’Keefe, added: “We are delighted to be able to help Norwood, in partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, provide more opportunities for disabled people to give sport a go. Record numbers of disabled people now play sport and it’s thanks to projects like this that we can continue to improve opportunities and make a real difference in communities.”

Norwood and Tottenham Hotspur Foundation will work together to recruit volunteers for the project and Grant Cornwell MBE from the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation said they will look to further expand the partnership in future.

"As an inclusive organisation, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation has created 13,000 sporting opportunities for disabled people in the last year," he said. "Working with partners such as Norwood, further increases opportunities for disabled people to take part in sport and physical activity as part of a healthy and active lifestyle."